Mystery Hold-up

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 136, 11 June 1936, Page 7

Mystery Hold-up

Police Officer and Masked Men strange story at INQUIRY • • Received Wednesday, 9.35 p.m. MELBOURNE, June 10. r h f.o.»‘»B rf thc Koyal C0«,»»•'»»; ScMsi«q«iri»B mtothc 3ho.t.«g o C by and the authenticity ot the police statements connected wit 1 • f Judge Maclndoo m. the Royal Stretton, who is assisting the Commissioner, said the •was thick with contusion and y j Brophy, whose arm was it » «• £ & related that, on the night of M■> a Tcccivcd a telephone lu^ a S J member of the undonro d jho oRc tho name privately i . L iiiiormor Um «*« VMSC "" °L t “ to „ s 0 police core, the nooibc.c ot vh.e the underworld aotol, A barman at lattcrsau s D amed Maher, drove the car and Mrs Crr was a passougci. stopped at a spot at Royal 1 ranged by the informer when uddmlj Mrs Orr exclaimed to Maher: there s a man alongside the car, Billj. Brophy said at that moment he noticed ama/on each side of the car, one of •whom was masked and the a torch into the car and called out “Hands up! Keep quiet. Ho JS exclaimed: "It’s Brophy! Brophy added: “I dived for my pistol c is a small eafibre one, and the man shouted: ‘Don’t shoot!’ 1 did not htsi talc. I fired and the man tired back, the' bullet shattering my wrist. I tort again and 1 am practically certain 1 ■wounded him. He continued iimig, four bullets striking me. U»c othci man disappeared.” Judge Maclndoe: Were they both shooting? , Brophy: Yes. Quo shot and punctured the tyre. Brophy explained that the men sped ;uvay in a car and Maher pursued them until compelled to’stop by the Hat-tyre. Brophy explained that tho reason why ho gave an incorrect account of the shooting in the first place was that fie did not want to compromise Mrs On and another woman friend of Orr’s, nor did he want his own wife and daughter, who were practically invalids, to hoar ho hud been shot by bandits. Brophy said 'ho was convinced the informer was not associated with the shooting. Mr Stretton asked: Didn’t it occui to you that it was unusual for a man of . your rank to go out on ordinary duty Brophy: I do ordinary duty if necessary. It is done in other States. Mr Stretton: Didn't it occur to you that there was a certain amount of danger that night? Brophy: If I thought there was the slightest danger 1 would not have taken two ladies. I believe it was as big a surprise to tho criminals as it •was to one. Mr Stretton: Could you not have picked a trusted policeman to drive your ear? Brophy: I would not trust my brother detectives in a case like this.

Brophy added that it was no use calling the local police or a patrol to search for attackers as they would not know who to search for. ‘‘.l thought 1 was doomed as I was unable to git c them information.”

Mr Wilbur Ham, K.C., who was appearing for the Mcbournc Herald and their reporters, said he was going to suggest that tho original accident theory was a subterfuge to hide the fact that Brophy was out with women. Brophy interjected: There was nothing sinister in that. 1 was not in a car with one, but two, women. Ho said he was not responsible for the accident story told to the reporters and he had no intention of deliberately deceiving the Police Chief, Sir Thomas

Blarney. Mr Ham suggested that Brophy did everything to help his assailants, to which Brophy replied that it ho had given lull information, his assailants could have been in Hong Kong before the police were aware of their movemeats.

There had been several hold-ups in the Koval Park, added Brophy, but some were not reported in the interests of women whose reputations were at slake. The story told at police headquarters that lie accidentally shot himself with his own pistol was a “stopgap” excuse and a pure fabrication. Lt was realised that the real truth would have to come out but not necessarily Vn - the public. The inquiry was adjourned.